Rigid rotor discharge deflector

ABSTRACT

A rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus for a combine has a body member that is attachable to the side wall of a discharge passage at the downstream end of the rotor. The body has a face portion with at least one ridge portion thereon extending generally laterally across at least a portion of the face portion. The body also has an upper body portion above the level of the ridge portion, an upper ramp portion sloped and extending outwardly from the upper body portion to the ridge portion, and a bracing associated with the upper ramp portion maintaining the ridge portion essentially fixed relative to the side wall. The body member may also include a lower body portion below the level of the ridge portion, and the upper and lower body portions may both be attachable to the side wall.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/808,370, filed May 25, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for transitioning aflow of crop residue in an agricultural combine from an axially arrangedthreshing or separating system of such combine to a following beater orintegrated chopper so as to effect better distribution of the residueacross the width of the beater or chopper, and, more particularly, to anapparatus including a fixed or rigid rotor discharge deflectorpositioned so as to be impinged by the greater flow of crop residuebeing discharged at one side of an axially extending rotor and concaveassembly of the threshing or separating system and to deflect a portionof such flow so as to better distribute the crop residue across thewidth of the beater or chopper as the crop residue is introduced intothe beater or chopper.

BACKGROUND Art

Axially arranged rotary threshing or separating systems have long beenin use in agricultural combines for threshing crops to separate grainfrom crop residue, also referred to as material other than grain (MOG).Such axially arranged systems typically include at least one cylindricalrotor rotated within a concave or cage, with the rotor and surroundingconcave being oriented so as to extend forwardly to rearwardly withinthe combine.

In operation, crop material is fed or directed into a circumferentialpassage between the rotor and the concave, hereinafter referred to as arotor residue passage, and is carried rearwardly along a generallyhelical path in such passage by the rotation of the rotor as grain isthreshed from the crop material. The flow of crop residue or MOGremaining between the rotor and concave after threshing is typicallydischarged or expelled by the rotating rotor at a rear or downstream endof the rotor and the rotor residue passage in a generally downward, or adownward and sidewardly, direction in what is a continuation of thehelical path of movement of the crop residue within the rotor residuepassage between the rotor and concave.

The flow is typically discharged into a discharge opening at thedownstream end of the rotor and into a further passage, hereinafterreferred to as a discharge passage or discharge chute, that extendsdownwardly and somewhat rearwardly into a crop residue distributionsystem located below and rearwardly of the rear end of the threshingsystem, which crop residue distribution system typically includes alaterally disposed rotary beater or chopper that beats or chops the cropresidue into smaller pieces and propels the resulting chopped cropresidue rearwardly within a rear end of the combine for either dischargefrom the combine through a rear opening onto a field or introductioninto a residue spreader apparatus, which residue spreader apparatus mayinclude a further chopper and/or spreader, mounted on the rear end andoperable for spreading the residue over a swath of a field.

Due to the nature of operation of the threshing rotor, the design ofsuch rotor and concave, and the helical movement of the crop residuewithin the rotor residue passage, the resulting flow of crop residuefrom the rotor residue passage into the discharge opening is oftengreater on the downward sweep side of the rotor than on the upward sweepside, as a consequence of which an uneven flow of crop residue ispresented across the width of the discharge opening and so introducedinto the beater or chopper. Such uneven input flow has typically, in thepast, resulted in inefficient operation of the beater or chopper, unevenwear of components of the beater or chopper, and poor materialconveyance from the beater or chopper to the residue spreader apparatusat the rear of the harvester.

Since the flow of crop residue as introduced into the beater or chopperis often considerably heavier at one side of the beater or chopper, thecrop mat introduced into the beater or chopper is often too thick forthe beater or chopper to effectively handle, as a consequence of whichthe chop quality of the residue discharged from the beater or chopper isoften less than desirable. Because the components of the beater orchopper which are associated with the side of the beater or chopper thatexperiences such heavier flow are subjected to greater abuse, they wearmore quickly, thus degrading the performance of the beater or chopperover time, especially on the side handling the heavier flow. As aconsequence, the output flow of residue from the beater or chopper oftenexhibits both uneven chop quality and uneven distribution across thewidth of the beater or chopper, with the heavier concentration of thepoorly chopped residue remaining concentrated along the side of heavierflow from the threshing rotor as the crop residue proceeds toward theresidue spreader. Such uneven flow across the width of the beater orchopper poses difficulties for the combine users.

Combine users desire, in many instances, when the crop residue is to bespread in a swath over a field, that the crop residue be distributedevenly or uniformly over the swath. Uniform distribution is desirablefor a number of reasons. Included among such reasons are that unevencrop residue distribution on a field can lead to temperature andmoisture gradients detrimental to even growth of future crops on thefield, uneven distribution can make it difficult for crops to utilizenutrients, and uneven distribution can impact the effectiveness ofagricultural chemicals. In addition, the existence of largediscontinuities of spread crop residue can lead to plugging and otherfunctional problems when such discontinuities are encountered by tillageand/or planting equipment.

It has been recognized that one factor that affects the ability of aresidue spreader to distribute crop residue evenly or uniformly over afield is the transverse or side to side evenness of crop residue inflowinto the residue spreader. However, the side to side uniformity of theinfeed to the residue spreader is directly related to the side to sideuniformity of the output flow from the beater or chopper, and since suchoutput flow is recognized to be a function of the side to sidedistribution of crop residue infeed into the beater or chopper from thethreshing system, it is therefore desirable to be able to effect arelatively uniform distribution of crop residue across the width of thebeater or chopper, or at least to be able to more evenly distribute theflow being discharged from the threshing rotor.

In light of the foregoing considerations, several devices and structureshave been developed to try to improve and better distribute the flow ofcrop residue from axially arranged threshing systems into crop residuedistribution systems, including constructions such as are disclosed inPayne et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,474 entitled Metering Edge for AxiallyArranged Rotary Separator, which discloses the use of a relatively thinprojecting asymmetrical arcuate assembly adjacent approximately thelower half of the concave of the combine with a metering edgeoverhanging the discharge chute from the rotor residue passage into thebeater or chopper, and Pfeiffer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,605 entitledDischarge Geometry for Axially Arranged Rotary Separator, whichdiscloses use of a deflector at the downstream end of the threshingrotor that extends into the flow passageway and has a relatively thinand flexible free end with upper and lower metering edges for meteringthe flow of residue to a discharge chute with guide vanes forintroduction into the beater or chopper.

Although the above referenced constructions may offer improvedperformance, they employ and require the use of metering edges as partof their constructions in attempts to obtain improved flow of cropresidue. Moreover, the required metering edges of such constructions aresubject to significant abuse, especially for heavy crop residue flows,and the relatively thin overhanging arcuate assembly of Payne et al.U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,474 and the relatively thin free end of thedeflector in the construction of Pfeiffer et al. U.S. Pat. No.6,241,605, due to their design characteristics, including their flexurecharacteristics as force is applied thereto, can be significantlyaffected in heavy flow situations and subject to damage or distortion ifthe rotor is caused to operate in reverse mode, such as in the event ofa plugged condition.

Consequently, what has continued to be sought is a discharge deflectorthat can positioned to interact with the crop residue flow from thethreshing rotor, that does not require metering edges, and which canbetter withstand the wear and tear of use without significant flexure ordistortion in heavy flow situations or in the event of rotor reversals,to effect a better distribution of crop residue introduced onto thebeater or chopper of an agricultural combine, which improveddistribution can result in more efficient operation of the beater orchopper, better chop quality from the beater or chopper, and more eventhroughput of crop residue to the residue spreader.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is disclosed is a rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus forbetter distributing crop residue from an axially arranged threshingsystem of a combine to a crop residue distribution system that overcomesone or more of the problems and disadvantages set forth hereinabove andwhich achieves the improved performance and reliability as alsodiscussed hereinabove.

Such apparatus is especially useful with agricultural combines and likeequipment, including combines which include an axially arrangedthreshing system having at least one rotor rotatable within a concavefor moving crop residue along an internal rotor residue passage anddischarging a flow of crop residue into and through a rearwardlylocated, generally downwardly facing discharge passage to a crop residuedistribution system, including a beater or chopper, of the combine.

The rigid rotor discharge apparatus includes a body member securablypositionable, such as by attachment to a side wall, at the downsweptside of the rotor in the discharge passage leading to the beater orchopper of the combine and sized such that, when securably attached tothe side wall, it extends along such side wall from generally adjacentthe downswept downstream end of the rotor rearwardly towards the rear ofthe combine within the discharge passage. Such securably attached bodymember includes a face portion having at least one ridge portion thereonextending generally laterally across at least a portion of the faceportion, an upper body portion above the level of the ridge portion, andan upper ramp portion sloped and extending outwardly in a fixed,inflexible manner, such as at a fixed angle α relative to the side wall,from the upper body portion to the ridge portion, and a bracingassociated with the upper ramp portion maintaining the ridge portionessentially fixed relative to the side wall and the upper ramp portionin the fixed manner, such as at essentially the fixed angle α. The upperramp portion is dimensioned to extend into the discharge passagesufficiently to be impacted by at least a portion of the crop residuebeing discharged by the rotor into the discharge passage. Due to itsdesign characteristics, including the bracing, such apparatus is thuspositionable to intercept at least a portion of the crop residue beingdischarged by the rotor into the discharge passage, and the crop residuewill impact the upper ramp portion without effecting flexure thereof andwill be deflected and redirected thereby across the discharge passage tobe more uniformly introduced into the beater or chopper apparatus.

The body member may also include a lower body portion below the level ofthe ridge portion, and the upper and lower body portions may both beattachable to the side wall. Preferably, a lower ramp portion may alsobe provided, which lower ramp portion slopes and extends in a givenmanner from the ridge portion back towards the lower body portion, suchas at a given angle β relative to the side wall. Such features may forma portion of the bracing for the upper ramp portion and also providefurther benefit in the event of rotor reversal operations by deflectingthe reverse flow and preventing buildup of crop residue behind the upperramp portion and/or the application of undue pressure against thebackside of the upper ramp portion that might otherwise damage ordistort the upper ramp portion.

The ridge portion typically will include a lip therewith, such as at thejuncture of upper and lower ramp portions, which lip may be at agenerally uniform distance from the side wall or which may have oppositeends at different distances from the side wall, with the end closer tothe wall being a lower end and the end farther from the wall being ahigher end, and may slope generally uniformly outwardly from the lowerend to the higher end. If the upper and lower body portions aregenerally plate-like portions resting against the side wall, the upperand lower ramp portions may generally define a wedge-like shape with thefaces of the upper and lower ramp portions each having a generallytriangular configuration.

In some instances, it may be desirable to be able to deflect and todivert the crop residue into multiple paths. In such instances, therigid rotor discharge deflector may include a plurality ofdistinguishable ridge portions and associated upper ramp portions andbracings, and such associated upper ramp portions may have the same ordifferent slopes, with ridge portions therefor at the same or differentvertical locations on the face of the body member.

The rigid rotor discharge deflector may be formed from a unitary memberor may be an assemblage of discrete components. For one preferred formof the invention, the deflector may be formed from a unitary plate-likemember, typically rectangular in shape, which is formed from a materialand is of a thickness that can withstand the application of forcethereto such as would be encountered due to the continuing impact ofcrop residue during the normal course of operation of a combine. Suchunitary member may then, under the application of suitable force thatexceeds forces to which the member would be subjected in the course ofordinary operation of a combine, be generally horizontally bent back onitself at a mid-height position to define a primary bend and upper andlower side portions on the upper and lower sides of the primary bend. Agenerally horizontal counter-bend may be applied to each of such upperand lower side portions at intermediate locations between the primarybend and the respective upper and lower edges of the upper and lowerside portions to form flange portions along such edges. The plate-likemember as so bent would thus have a configuration resembling a V-shaperotated by 90°, with the leg portions of the V-shape defining oppositelysloped upper and lower ramp portions. The slopes of such ramp portionsmay, but need not be, essentially the same. The flange portions soformed may be attachable to the side wall by various types or form ofconnection devices or techniques, including, by way of example and notof limitation, nut and bolt connections and welding techniques.

If, instead of applying a horizontal counter-bend to each of the upperand lower side portions, angled counter-bends, each terminating at aboutthe same end of the primary bend, were applied to the upper and lowerside portions, the resulting configuration would be that of a flat platewith upper and lower flange portions and having a generally triangularwedge rising from the surface to a peak, with the sloped upper and lowersides of the wedge being of approximately triangular shapes and definingupper and lower ramp portions, the slopes of which may, but need not be,essentially the same. The upper and lower flange portions could besimilarly attachable to the side wall by various types or forms ofconnection devices or techniques.

With such form of the invention, the lower flange and ramp portionsserve as bracing for the upper ramp portions to inhibit and preventflexure or distortion of the upper ramp portions as they are impacted bythe flow of crop residue during operation of the combine and to ensurethe rigidity of the rotor discharge deflector of the invention.Depending upon the particular form and characteristics of any givendeflector and the combine with which it may be employed and theconditions of use, other or additional bracing may be utilized orconsidered desirable or advisable. Such bracing could include featuressuch as one or more supports, or a solid supporting structure, beneathor extending to the backside or to the sides of the upper ramp portion,or may even include the use of a material of suitable thickness for theupper ramp portion such that the upper ramp portion will remainessentially inflexible under normal conditions of use of the combine.

In such regard, it should be appreciated that, for purposes ofdiscussion herein, use of terms such as “inflexible” and “fixed”,especially relative to angles and distances, and with reference tovarious materials or structures or features, are intended to beapplicable to ordinary and normal conditions, and not to extreme orextraordinary conditions, since under extreme or extraordinaryconditions, distortions or changes could occur or be expected. Ingeneral, unless otherwise indicated, these and all such like termsshould be considered to apply to ordinary and normal conditions anduses, and to ordinarily detectable or observable changes under suchconditions or during such uses, and not to changes or differences thatwould be considered to fall within normal variances or which would beconsidered minute or to be detectable only by sophisticated ornon-standard equipment or which would be expected under extreme orextraordinary conditions or uses.

Other and additional embodiments of the invention and forms of featuresor components thereof, as well as a further and more completeunderstanding of the invention, may be derived and will become apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed specification inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is simplified side plan view of agricultural combine,illustrating in dotted lines an axially arranged threshing system of thecombine, and a rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus for moreuniformly directing crop residue flow from the threshing system to abeater or chopper of the combine.

FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view at the rear of the rotor of the combineof FIG. 1, showing the threshing system and a preferred form of thedeflector apparatus of the invention, and illustrating in phantom a pathof crop residue flow expelled from the threshing system, and an adjustedpath of the flow as effected by the deflector plate of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified side plan view of the threshing system, deflectorapparatus of the invention, and a beater or chopper.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting in better detail the deflectorapparatus of FIG. 3 and illustrating a manner in which such deflectorapparatus can be formed from a rectangular plate-like body;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a deflectorapparatus according to the present invention and illustrating a mannerin which such deflector apparatus can be formed from a rectangularplate-like body;

FIGS. 6-7 are perspective views of further embodiments of a deflectorapparatus according to the present invention that can be formed from aunitary plate-like member of generally rectangular shape;

FIGS. 8-10 are perspective views of additional embodiments of adeflector apparatus according to the present invention, formed from aunitary plate-like member to have a generally rectangular footprintafter formation;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a deflectorapparatus according to the present invention, illustrating the use ofside supports as bracing for the upper ramp portion of the rigid rotordischarge deflector;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view at the rear of the rotor of thecombine of FIG. 1, illustrating the positioning of the rigid rotordischarge deflector of FIG. 11 in the discharge passage and theattachment thereof to the side wall at the downswept side of the rotor;

FIG. 13 a perspective view of still another embodiment of a deflectorapparatus according to the present invention which has a plurality ofupper ramp portions;

FIG. 14 is a simplified top plan view of a rear end of the combine,showing the threshing system, crop residue distribution system, and acrop residue chopper/spreader apparatus of the combine, and illustratingcrop residue flow through the rear end of the combine and a relationshipof crop residue discharged from the combine in relation to an axialcenterline thereof;

FIG. 15 is another simplified top plan view of the combine, showing thethreshing system, deflector apparatus of the invention, residuedistribution system and chopper/spreader apparatus, illustratingalignment of crop residue flow with an axial centerline as the result ofthe present invention;

FIG. 16 is still another simplified top plan view of the combine,showing the threshing system, deflector apparatus of the invention, andan alternative residue spreader apparatus, illustrating alignment ofcrop residue flow with an axial centerline of the combine resulting fromthe present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein several preferred embodiments ofthe present invention are shown and wherein like numerals refer to likeor similar items or features, FIG. 1 depicts a representativeagricultural combine 20 that includes an axially arranged threshingsystem 22 and a crop residue distribution system 24 that includes abeater or chopper 46, all of well known construction and operation.

As can be generally and essentially observed from a review and study ofFIGS. 1-3, threshing system 22 is axially arranged in that it includes acylindrical rotor 28 conventionally supported and rotatable in apredetermined direction, with arrow A in FIG. 2 denoting a typicalclockwise, or forward, rotation, about a rotational axis 30 therethroughand within a concave 32, for conveying a flow of crop material in ahelical flow path through a space 34 extending circumferentially aroundan outer cylindrical surface 35 of rotor 28 and an inner circumferentialsurface of concave 32. As the crop material is moved through space 34,the crop, such as grain, legumes, or the like, will be loosened andseparated from crop residue such as husk and pods, and carried awaytherefrom in the well known conventional manner.

As may be observed from FIG. 3, the crop residue will continue along ahelical path through space 34, and will be discharged or expelledtherefrom into a discharge opening and through a discharge passage 36,which essentially comprises an extension of space 34 at the downstreamend of rotor 28. Some of the flow expelled through discharge passage 36will tend to be directed to flow generally downwardly along internalside 38 (FIG. 2), while some portions of the flow will be directedand/or be carried by rotating rotor 28 and momentum, in a transversedirection, denoted by arrow C in FIG. 2, toward an opposite internalside of combine 20, and will eventually flow downwardly toward thebeater or chopper 46 of crop residue distribution system 24, such asdenoted by arrows C2.

The consistency of the flow of crop residue, volume thereof, and extentor pattern thereof, will typically vary, and be a function of a varietyof conditions, including, but not limited to, a speed of rotation indirection A of rotor 28, crop type, plant maturity, moisture content,and weather conditions. As an example, rotor speeds can vary betweenjust a few hundred rpm and over a thousand rpm. Wheat and other smallgrains will typically have relatively small crop residue components,whereas other grains, such as corn, will typically have largercomponents, such as thick stalk segments, cob fragments, and largeleaves. Typically, as observable in FIG. 2, the downward flow of cropresidue will be more to a right hand side of a front-to-rear extendingvertical centerline 40 of both threshing system 22 and crop residuedistribution system 24. The sideward extent of such typical downwardflow is represented by extent D in FIG. 2, and is generally bounded onthe left hand side by a line 42 extending generally downwardly on theleft of centerline 40, and on the right hand side by a line 44 extendinggenerally downwardly from internal side 38, the sideward or transverselocation of line 42 and thus the transverse extent D of the downwardflow varying as a function of one or more of the above conditions and/orparameters.

Here, it should be noted that crop residue distribution system 24 willtypically include a rotary device, such as a beater or chopper 46 (seeFIG. 3), rotatable in a direction E above a concave pan 48. Chopper 46typically rotates at a rapid speed, so as to be capable of acceleratingand propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly within the confines ofthe rear end of combine 20, as generally denoted by arrows F. Suchrearward flow is typically guided and directed by internal panels orshields, generally denoted by shields 50 (FIG. 1), so as to either flowinto a crop residue chopper and/or spreader, such as chopper/spreader26, hereinafter referred to as a spreader, or through a rear opening soas to be deposited directly onto a field.

Typically, spreader 26 will be operated so as to distribute the cropresidue in a layer on a swath of a field being harvested by combine 20.As noted hereinabove, it is often desirable for the crop residue to bedistributed evenly or uniformly over the swath, for a variety ofpurposes, important among which is uniform emergence of subsequentlyplanted crops, and uniform application of chemicals and fertilizers ontothe field.

As has also been noted hereinabove, it has previously been noted thatheavier flow of crop residue into one side or the other of chopper 46will result in the propulsion of more crop residue toward acorresponding side of a spreader apparatus, such as spreader 26, with aresult of a heavier layer or distribution of crop residue on acorresponding side of a swath over a field. For the reasons set forthabove, such uneven deposition of crop residue on a field is undesirablein many instances.

With reference now, also, to FIG. 4, the present invention, which hasbeen developed to overcome this problem and to provide the ability tomore uniformly distribute the flow of crop residue being introduced tothe chopper of a combine, such as chopper 46 of combine 20, resides in arigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus 52 that includes rigidlybraced upper ramp portion 53 that extends into the path of at least aportion of the crop residue flow B. More particularly, upper rampportion 53 extends into the crop residue flow so that at least portionsof that crop residue flow which would flow along or close to side 38,will instead impinge or strike upper ramp portion 53 and be deflecteddownwardly thereby, as denoted by arrows B and B1 in FIG. 2.

Importantly, the downwardly directed crop residue flow, as illustratedby representative arrow B1, will be transversely shifted or moved in atransverse direction in the discharge passage, that is, more to the leftof internal side 38 in such figures, depending on the transverseposition and the slope of upper ramp portion 53. It will be understoodthat the farther upper ramp portion 53 extends transversely away fromside 38, the farther the downwardly directed crop residue flow will beshifted in the transverse direction.

Addressing FIG. 2 more particularly, it should be noted and understoodthat the transverse movement or shifting of downwardly directed flow B1causes a corresponding transverse shift of other portions of thedownwardly directed flow in the transverse direction, as illustrated byarrows C1. Thus, it has been found that the overall transverse extent ofthe downward flow of crop residue, denoted by extent D1, extendingbetween lines 54 and 56, can be transversely moved or shifted by use ofa deflector apparatus, such as the rigid rotor discharge deflector 52and its braced upper ramp portion 53, in the path of portions of flow Bin the vicinity of internal side 38 of the combine.

Thus, for a combine including a crop residue distribution system, suchas system 24 including a rotary chopper 46, the transverse position orlocation of crop residue inflow can be adjusted, for example, to be moreuniformly distributed with a vertical centerline of the distributionsystem, such as centerline 40, which is a joint centerline of rotor 28of threshing system 22 and chopper 46 of distribution system 24, asillustrated by the location of the center of transverse extent Dl inFIG. 2.

As viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, in its normal, forward operation rotor 28 isrotated in a clockwise direction, making the right side of concave 32the downward swept side and the left hand side of concave 32 the upwardswept side. Discharge deflector apparatus 52, with its upper rampportion 53, is shown being mounted within the discharge passage 36 atthe downstream end of rotor 28 at approximately the level of the axis 30of rotor 28 at its downstream end, with upper ramp portion 53 extendinginto the flow of crop residue to intercept at least a portion of thecrop residue as the crop residue is helically expelled from the upperportion of rotor residue passage 34 on the downward swept side of rotor28 and to deflect the intercepted flow so that crop residue will be moreuniformly introduced to chopper 46.

FIGS. 4-12 depict in further detail various embodiments of dischargedeflectors according to the present invention and include a number ofcommon features and components. Generally the various dischargedeflectors preferably are constructed of a rigid, abrasion resistantmaterial, such as sheet metal or the like, and are configured to besecurably mountable at a suitable location, such as on internal side 38as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 12. Such discharge deflectors include abody member 60 that has a face portion 62 with a ridge portion 64thereon extending laterally across at least a portion of the faceportion 62, an upper body portion 66 above the level of ridge portion64, an upper ramp portion 53 sloped and extending outwardly at a fixedangle from the upper body portion 66 to ridge portion 64, and a bracing68 associated with upper ramp portion 53 maintaining ridge portion 64essentially fixed relative to side wall 38 and upper ramp portion 53 atessentially the fixed angle. In some embodiments, bracing 68 may includea lower body portion 70 below the level of the ridge portion 64 and alower ramp portion 72 which slopes and extends at a given angle from theridge portion 64 back towards lower body portion 70. The ridge portion64 will typically include a rolled lip 74 therewith, such as at thejuncture of upper ramp portion 53 and lower ramp portion 72.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, it may be observed that dischargedeflector 52 may be formed from a unitary, rectangular plate ofmaterial, such as rectangular plate 80, by bending such plate back onitself along horizontal line 82 to define a primary bend and respectiveupper and lower side portions 84 and 86 on the upper and lower sides ofthe primary bend. A generally horizontal counter-bend may be applied toeach of such upper and lower side portions 84 and 86 at intermediatelocations between the primary bend and the respective upper and loweredges 88 and 90 of the upper and lower side portions 84 and 86, such asat respective horizontal lines 92 and 94, to form flange portions 96 and98 along such edges. The rectangular plate 80 as so bent would thus havea configuration resembling a V-shape rotated by 90°, with the legportions of such V-shape defining the oppositely sloped upper and lowerramp portions 53 and 72. The flange portions 96 and 98 may be attachableto the side wall by way of threaded bolts inserted through openings 100in the flange portions 96, 98 and corresponding openings in side wall 38and the installation of nuts on the threaded ends of the bolts.Preferably, the upper ramp portion may extend at approximately a 60°angle relative to the side wall, with the lower ramp portion extendingat approximately a 30° angle relative to the side wall and the angle atthe primary bend being approximately 75°.

FIG. 5 depicts an alternate embodiment, also formed from unitary,rectangular plate 80, and bent along horizontal line 82 to form aprimary bend, but wherein an angled counterbend is applied to upper sideportion 84 along line 110 and an angled counterbend is applied to lowerside portion 86 along line 112, resulting in discharge deflector 52A.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict further discharge deflector embodiments 52B and 52Cthat may be formed in somewhat similar manners from a unitary plate andwhich have a plurality of distinguishable upper ramp portions, such asthe upper ramp portions 120-123 and 130-133.

For mounting or other purposes, it is sometimes desired that the formeddischarge deflectors have a generally rectangular footprint. In suchevent, it may be desired that the discharge deflector be formed from asomewhat fan-shaped or other shaped plate, rather than a rectangularplate, so that the formed construction will have a rectangularfootprint. FIG. 8 illustrates how a discharge deflector 52D, similar insome respects to discharge deflector 52A, could be formed from thefan-shaped plate 138, while FIGS. 9-10 illustrates other dischargedeflectors 52E and 52F that could be similarly formed from differentfan-shaped or other shaped plates, with discharge deflector 52Fincluding a plurality of upper ramp portions 150-153.

While the various embodiments of FIGS. 4-10 include lower ramp portionsand flange portions that serve as bracing for the upper ramp portions,other discharge deflector embodiments may employ different bracing,including one or more supports, or a solid supporting structure, beneathor extending to the backside or to the sides of the upper ramp portion.For example, FIGS. 11-12 depict a preferred alternate dischargedeflector 52G, and the installation thereof at side wall 38, thatincludes side support portions 156 along each side of the construction,extending from adjacent the side wall 38 to the backside of upper rampportion 53 and ridge portion 64. Such support portions form a portion ofthe bracing, and the rolled lip 74 further enhances the rigidity of theconstruction at that point in addition to helping to prevent damage tothe discharge deflector in the event of rotor reversal by allowing thecrop residue to slide over and around the lip without hairpinning.

FIG. 13 depicts a still further discharge deflector embodiment 52Hhaving a body 60 formed from a material plate and having a plurality ofupper ramp portions 160-163 formed on the body, each of which rampportions is braced by the thickness and bulk of the body and itsmaterial, and the material, thickness, and size of the upper rampportions, especially relative to the entirety of such body. Typically,such body could be positioned on side wall 38 approximately three inches(76 mm) below the height of the axis of the rotor, and need extendtowards the rear of the combine only a short distance since only a smalllength of deflector, on the order of one to three inches (25-76 mm), canserve to divert an adequate portion of the crop residue flow. In suchembodiment, the four upper ramp portions are angled similarly, althoughthey could be angled differently if so desired. Such embodiment, likethe discharge deflector embodiments of FIGS. 6, 7 and 10, permits theconcentrated flow of crop residue along side wall 38 to be separatedinto a plurality, in this case four, separate flow streams that aredeflected transversely across the discharge passage in order to effect amore uniform introduction of crop residue to chopper 46.

Although, in the illustrations herein and in the foregoing discussions,the upper and lower ramp portions have had faces that are generallystraight and flat, it should be recognized that, in the practice of thepresent invention, the faces of such ramp portions need not necessarilybe straight and flat, and that concave or convex or faceted faces couldalso be employed so long as the upper ramp portions are braced andremain essentially fixed and inflexible in normal use. Likewise, itshould be understood that the backsides of such ramps need be of noparticular form and could even extend back to and rest against the sidewall so as to provide bracing for the upper ramp portions.

All of such discharge deflector embodiments, and other embodimentsaccording to the present invention, including embodiments that mayinclude other numbers of upper ramp portions, varying angles and slopes,and other bracing, can thus be utilized and employed to deflect aportion of the crop residue flow from the rotor so as to betterdistribute the crop residue across the width of the chopper, thesignificance of which can be better understood by reference to FIG. 14.Such figure generally depicts typical crop residue flow characteristicsthat have previously been encountered with flow from an axially arrangedthreshing system 22 of a combine 20 into a chopper 46, and from there,into and from a crop residue spreader 26. It can be observed in suchfigure that flow D from threshing system 22 is centered about acenterline 72 which is offset from centerline 40 of threshing system 22.With such configuration, the crop residue flow F that is propelledrearwardly by chopper 46 is similarly offset in the same direction andcentered about centerline 72. Flow F flows into crop residue spreader 26in the offset manner, and spreader 26, in turn, propels the crop residuefrom the rear end of combine 20 in a similarly offset manner, asillustrated by large arrow G. As a result, the crop residue is spreadunevenly over a swath of the field.

In contrast, as depicted in FIG. 15, utilization of the presentinvention in association with threshing system 22 of combine 20, resultsin a deflection of crop residue flow D1 into chopper 46 in a moreuniform manner, and the consequent, more centered and uniform dischargeof crop residue from distribution system 22 relative to centerline 40,as is illustrated by the location of the center of arrow Fl. The cropresidue flow is therefore inducted into spreader 26 in a more centeredmanner and uniform manner, and so as to be propelled from the rear endof combine 20 in a more centered and uniform relationship to centerline40, as illustrated by arrow G1.

In FIG. 16, a different embodiment of a crop residue spreader 26 isillustrated, including a pair of impellers rotatable about horizontalaxes for discharging crop residue in opposite sideward directions, asillustrated by arrows H. Again, the centered flow of crop residue F1from chopper 46 and into spreader 26 results in more even inflow intospreader 26, such that outflows H will be more even, resulting in moreuniform spreading characteristics.

In light of all the foregoing, it should thus be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that there has been shown and described a rigid rotordischarge deflector apparatus that can be utilized to effect a moreuniform distribution of crop residue from the rotor of a combine to thechopper. However, it should also be apparent that, within the principlesand scope of the invention, many changes are possible and contemplated,including in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts whichhave been described and illustrated to explain the nature of theinvention. Thus, while the foregoing description and discussionaddresses certain preferred embodiments or elements of the invention, itshould further be understood that concepts of the invention, as basedupon the foregoing description and discussion, may be readilyincorporated into or employed in other embodiments and constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, thefollowing claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as wellas in the specific form shown, and all changes, modifications,variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from thespirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by theinvention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

1. A rigid rotor discharge deflector for a combine having a generallylongitudinally disposed rotor feeding crop residue into a dischargepassage above a chopper apparatus, the discharge passage having spacedside walls, comprising a body mountable to a side wall of the dischargepassage on the downswept side of the rotor, and, when so mounted, havinga face extending from generally adjacent to the downstream end of therotor rearwardly towards the rear of the combine, said face of said bodymember including a plurality of laterally spaced ridge portions eachextending generally laterally across a portion of said face, each ridgeportion having a respective upper body portion, upper ramp portion, anda bracing associated therewith, with the upper ramp portion extendingfrom the respective associated upper body portion in a fixed andinflexible manner and being braced against flexure by its respectiveassociated bracing, whereby at least a portion of the crop residue beingdischarged from the rotor into the discharge passage will impact saidupper ramp portion without effecting flexure thereof and will bedeflected and redirected thereby to be more uniformly laterallyintroduced into the chopper apparatus. 2-11. (canceled)
 12. The rigidrotor discharge deflector of claim 1 wherein said plurality of ridgeportions are staggered in height positionings on said face of said body.13. The rigid rotor discharge deflector of claim 1 wherein the pluralityof upper ramp portions all extend into the discharge passage atessentially the same fixed angle relative to the side wall.
 14. Therigid rotor discharge deflector claim 1 wherein each of said pluralityof ridge portions extends generally horizontally across a portion ofsaid face and said plurality of upper ramp portions are similarly sized,with said ridge portions being generally uniformly spaced laterally andgenerally uniformly staggered height-wise on said face of said body.15-27. (canceled)
 28. A rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus for acombine having a generally longitudinally disposed rotor feeding cropresidue into a discharge passage above a chopper apparatus, thedischarge passage having spaced side walls, comprising a plurality ofupper ramp portions spaced laterally along a side wall of the dischargepassage and projecting into the discharge passage, said plurality ofupper ramp portions intersecting at least certain respective portions ofcrop residue being fed into the discharge passage and deflecting andrespectively redirecting such portions of crop residue in respectivetransverse manners across the discharge passage as the crop residueportions impact said upper ramp portions, whereby the crop residueprovided to the chopper apparatus is more uniformly presented thereto.29. The rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus of claim 28, whereinthe plurality of upper ramp portions are spaced at staggered heightsalong the side wall.
 30. The rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatusof claim 29, wherein the highest upper ramp portion is disposed nohigher than the height of the axis of the rotor and the lowest of saidupper ramp portions is disposed no lower below the height of the axis ofthe rotor than the radius of the rotor.
 31. The rigid rotor dischargedeflector apparatus of claim 28 wherein said upper ramp portions are alldisposed at approximately the same angle relative to the side wall. 32.The rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus of claim 31 wherein saidupper ramp portions are all of similar sizes and dimensions.
 33. Therigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus of claim 28 wherein said upperramp portions are of different heights.
 34. The rigid rotor dischargedeflector apparatus of claim 33 wherein said upper ramp portions aredisposed at different angles relative to the side wall.
 35. The rigidrotor discharge deflector apparatus of claim 28 wherein said upper rampportions are braced to maintain said upper ramp portions in fixed andinflexible positions during normal forward operating conditions of therotor.
 36. The rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus of claim 35wherein said upper ramp portions have associated therewith respectiveridge portions and respective lower ramp portions at the sides of saidridge portions opposite to said upper ramp portions, said lower rampportions extending from said ridge portions back towards the side wall,said lower ramp portions providing bracing for said upper ramp portions.37. The rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus of claim 35 whereinsaid upper ramp portions are of a material and thickness to remain fixedand inflexible under normal forward operating conditions of the rotor.38. The rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus of claim 28 whereinsaid plurality of upper ramp portions are included on a material bodysecurably attached to the side wall.
 39. The rigid rotor dischargedeflector apparatus of claim 38 wherein said material body is a platemember.
 40. The rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus of claim 39wherein portions of said plate are deformed to effect said plurality ofupper ramp portions.